A Lakewood man appears to have shot and killed his wife before he fatally shot himself near Tolmie State Park Wednesday, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office said.

A preliminary investigation points to a husband-and-wife homicide and suicide, authorities said.

According to Lt. Cliff Ziesemer of the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office :

About 2:30 p.m., the sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of two bodies spotted by a passerby near a Volkswagen on 56th Avenue NE west of St. Charles Drive NE, which is near Marvin Road NE.

Both of the victims had suffered gunshot wounds, and the man’s appeared to be self inflicted. The woman died at the scene and the man died on his way to Providence St. Peter Hospital. Deputies found a semi-automatic pistol in the area.

Ziesemer did not disclose the victims’ names. The woman was reported to be 39 years old; the man was reported to be 51.

The couple have a 16-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son, who were contacted at their Lakewood home, put into protective custody, and placed with other family members.